But you're asking the wrong questions. It's not "does the worker deserve $15/hr," but "why is the wealth being created by the worker going somewhere other than to him?" And the answer is simple: because somebody else owns the franchise. That person extracts wealth by virtue of allowing people to operate the means of production.
If our country WEREN'T captivated by the lust for money, why are there people choosing between rent and medicine each month?
"Why is the wealth being created by the worker going somewhere other than to him?" I'd say because that worker isn't generating wealth in a vacuum. Instead, that worker is generating wealth selling a product (which he didn't buy), cooking with tools (which he didn't buy), and selling to customers (which he didn't attract). That worker is not entitled to the full wealth that he is helping to generate.
And why are some people choosing between rent & medicine? The simple answer is that we don't live in a perfect world, and they are going to have to make some decisions on what is the most needed. Most of us will never live in a situation where every need is met. Almost none of us will live in a world where every want is met. The more nuanced answer is that all of the financial decisions that the individual has/is making would need to be examined to see if the choice is truly between rent and medicine.
~Jeordam
Saving the Princess, Humanity, or the World-Entire since 1985